The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. These trials resulted in the execution of twenty people, fourteen of them women, and the imprisonment of many others. When examining the sources of the Salem witch hunt, one can find a variety of primary and secondary sources that shed light on the events that occurred during this dark period in American history. One of the most well-known primary sources is the court records, which document the testimonies, accusations, and judgments of those involved in the trials. These records provide valuable insight into the legal proceedings and the arguments presented by both the accused and accusers. Another important primary source is the written accounts of the individuals involved in the trials.
In order to defend its actions, the Massachusetts government asked Boston minister Cotton Mather to write a book about the trials in which he justified the trials and the way they were conducted.
In 1704, Lawson wrote another account of the Salem Witch Trials, a sermon titled Christ s Fidelity the only Shield against Satan s Malignity, aka Witchcraft in Salem, which was published in London in 1704. Written in 1697 and published in 1700, this book by Boston cloth merchant Robert Calef denounces the Salem Witch Trials and Cotton Mather s role in it.
Another important primary source is the written accounts of the individuals involved in the trials. Some of the accused and their family members wrote letters and diaries detailing their experiences and the impact the trials had on their lives. These personal accounts offer a unique perspective on the emotions and anxieties felt by those caught up in the hysteria.
WITCH HUNTS
Brooks, Rebecca Beatrice. "History of the Salem Witch Trials." History of Massachusetts blog (August 18, 2011) .
General history with some snippets of primary sources among the entries on various participants.
Burns, M. "A Guide to the On-Line Primary Sources of the Salem Witch Trials" (n.d.) 17th Century Colonial New England with Special Emphasis on the Essex County Witch-Hunt of 1692. . Mostly links to U Virginia or Cornell, but also various rare books, the Library of Congress, Maryland State Archives, and New England Historic Genealogical Society.
Burr. George Lincoln, ed. Narratives of Witchcraft Cases 1648-1706. 19141 [Barnes & Noble 1946 reprint]: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.31175010811423> includes Increase Mather, "Remakable Providences;" Cotton Mather, Memorable Providences; Deodat Lawson, "A Brief and True Narrative;" Robert Calef, More Wonders of the Invisible World; John Hale, A Modest Inquiry.
Congregational Library and Archives. . Collection drawn from books of Boston clergy.
Flotte TJ1, Bell DA." Role of skin lesions in the Salem witchcraft trials." PubMed.gov.
"Hawthorne in Salem." (n.d.) /YoungGoodmanBrown/OriginalDocuments.html>.
As part of much larger site on Nathaniel Hawthorne, numerous short excerpts from Mather, Hale, Upham; illustrations of title pages and warrents; examinations and depositions (many from Virginia site).
Latner, Richard B. "The Salem Witchcraft Site." Tulane Unversity (n.d.) .
Some narrative but also databases constructed from the sources.
Levin, David. "Did the Mathers Disagree about the Salem Witch Trials?" American Antiquarian. .
Linder, Douglas. "Salem Witchcraft Trials." Famous Trials (2018) .
Chronology, map, examinations, letters, petitions, reports.
Mass. Bay Colony Government. "An Act against Conjuration, Witchcraft, and Dealing with Evil and Wicked Spirits [December 1692]." Evans Early American Imprint Collection. .
Mather, Cotton. Magnalia Christi Americana or, The ecclesiastical history of New-England, from its first planting in the year 1620. unto the year of Our Lord, 1698. In seven books. London: Printed for Thomas Parkhurst, at the Bible and three crowns in Cheapside, 1702 https://archive.org/stream/magnaliachristia00math?ref=ol#page/n673/mode/2up.
Perkins, William. A Discourse of the Damned Art of Witchcraft so Far Forth as it is Revealed in the Scriptures and Manifest by True Experience. Cambridge, UK, 1610, Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership.
Ray, Benjamin. "Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project." University of Virginia (2002) .
Court records, record books, letters, sermons, diaries, maps, primary source books (Hale, Mather, Burr collection), links to other archives.
Salem Witchcraft Trial Records. Philips Library Digital Collection, Peabody Essex Museum. See also "Diving into the world’s largest collection of Salem witch trial documents at PEM," http://sponsored.bostonglobe.com/peabody-essex-museum/worlds-largest-collection-of-salem-witch-trial-documents/ and Shea, Andrea. "Authentic Salem Witch Trials Artifacts Are On Display Amid Halloween Kitsch."WBUR (October 26 2020).
Schaffer, Bridgitte. "Primary Sources on Puritanism and the Salem Witch Trials." Napa Valley College (2014) HIST%20120%20Spring%202014/Sources%20Puritanism.pdf>.
Selection of witch readings (Winthrop, Dane, Good, and Bishop) for an American History course.
Upham, Charles W. Salem witchcraft: with an account of Salem Village, and a history of opinions on witchcraft and kindred subjects. hathitrust.
Witch Trial Online Sites Tour. . Pictures and descriptions of many places in the region associated with the hunts.
Woodward, Elliot W, ed. Records of Salem Witchcraft, Copied from the Original Documents, 44–50. Roxbury, MA: Private Printer for W.E. Woodward, 1864 . Various warrants, oaths, summonses, indictments, depositions, examinations, and other legal documents related to the hunt.
For some student annotations on books about Salem, go here:
| Ten Theories about the Causes of the Witch Hunts: ideas by historians about the origins of the Witch Hunts | Ten Common Errors and Myths about the Witch Hunts: corrections to mistaken ideas people frequently have about the Witch Hunts | Timeline of the Hunts to 1800: chronology of key events, sources and people involved in the witch hunts |
| The SALEM WITCH HUNT TedED video Timeline Pictures Annotated Books & Articles | ||
| Primary Source: Letters from the Witch Trial of Rebecca Lemp: a family deals with accusations. | Torture: a review of torture in the witch hunts and today. | Suffer your own persecution! Try a witch hunt simulation: make choices to survive or not. |
Published around November or December of 1692, but postdated to 1693 to comply with Phip’s ban, this book by Increase Mather criticizes the court’s use of spectral evidence and other evidence, such as the touch test.
In addition to primary sources, there are also numerous secondary sources that provide analysis and interpretation of the Salem witch trials. Historians and scholars have written books, articles, and essays on the subject, offering different theories and perspectives on the causes and consequences of the witch hunt. These secondary sources help to contextualize the events and provide a broader understanding of the societal and cultural factors that contributed to the trials. However, it is important to approach these sources with a critical eye. Many of the primary sources are influenced by the religious and social beliefs of the time, and the secondary sources can be shaped by the biases and interpretations of the authors. To truly understand the sources and their implications, it is essential to evaluate their reliability, consider multiple perspectives, and engage in further research. In conclusion, the sources of the Salem witch hunt are varied and include primary sources such as court records and personal accounts, as well as secondary sources provided by historians and scholars. These sources offer valuable insights into the events that took place and provide a framework for understanding the complexities of this tragic chapter in American history. By critically examining these sources, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the Salem witch trials and the factors that contributed to this mass hysteria..
Reviews for "Parchments and Puzzles: Studying the Sources of the Salem Witch Trials"
1. John Doe - 1 star - This book was a complete waste of time. The author makes wild assumptions and presents them as facts, without providing any solid evidence or analysis. The writing style is dry and boring, making it difficult to stay engaged throughout. I was hoping for a comprehensive examination of the sources related to the Salem witch hunt, but instead, I got a rambling and unsubstantiated diatribe. Stay away from this book if you're looking for a well-researched and objective account of the events.
2. Sarah Smith - 2 stars - While I appreciate the author's attempt to shed light on the sources of the Salem witch hunt, I found this book to be quite disappointing. The research presented is limited, and the conclusions drawn are questionable at best. The author fails to provide a balanced perspective, often cherry-picking evidence to support their preconceived notions. Additionally, the writing is convoluted and lacks clarity, making it difficult to follow the author's arguments. I would recommend seeking alternative sources for a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the Salem witch hunt.
3. Mark Johnson - 2 stars - As someone who has studied the Salem witch trials extensively, I was excited to read this book and gain new insights into the sources behind the hysteria. Unfortunately, I was left disappointed and frustrated. The author's biased and speculative approach undermined any valid arguments they may have had. The lack of thorough analysis and reliance on hearsay weaken the overall credibility of the book. I would caution readers to approach this text with skepticism and to supplement their knowledge with more reputable sources.